INTRODUCTION TO THE GRE GENERAL TEST Margaret Krantz Hanover College Career Center Director

GRE Testing Program (Scores last 5 years) Subject Tests (Paper and pencil, offered 3 times/year) Biochemistry, Cell & Molecular Biology Biology Chemistry Computer Science Literature in English Mathematics Physics Psychology

GRE Subject Test Scores (Achievement Tests) Possible Score Range: 200 – 990  Actual score ranges vary by test subject. See the ETS website for score distributions for your subject area.

Subject Test Registration Test Date  10/15/11  11/12/11  4/21/12 Registration Deadline*  9/9/11  10/7/11  3/16/12 *Note this is a receipt date; allow 7 days for US mailed financial aid discount vouchers.

Revised GRE (General test only) $160 (Save 50% between 8/1 and 9/30) Verbal, Quantitative, Analytical Writing Aptitude Test Offered on computer 6 days/week Limit once per 60 days, 5 times/year.

Revised GRE: Scoring Analytical Writing:  Score range: 0 – 6  Mean: 4.1 Verbal and Quantitative Sections:  Score Range: 130 – 170  Verbal Mean: 150  Quantitative Mean: 150

Sample Score Report

Registering for the GRE  Call the test center directly  On-line  US mail General test: $160 Subject test: $140 4 reports free; $23 for each additional.

THE COMPUTER-ADAPTIVE GRE GENERAL TEST

Revised GRE: Adaptivity  There will be 2 verbal reasoning sections and 2 quantitative sections.  Within a section, you can skip, mark, return.  You cannot return to past sections.  Difficulty of second section will be adjusted to your ability.

Section 1, questions 1-20 ability / difficulty Mean Section 2, 1-20 A possible representation of new computer adaptivity

Section 1, questions 1-20 ability / difficulty Mean Section 2, 1-20

Section 1, questions 1-20 ability / difficulty Mean Section 2, 1-20

Section 1, questions 1-20 ability / difficulty Mean Section 2, 1-20

Section 1, questions 1-20 ability / difficulty Mean Section 2, 1-20

Section 1, questions 1-20 ability / difficulty Mean Section 2, 1-20

OVERVIEW OF THE DAY

Test Centers or Universities  Computer stations,  Other tests going on,  Security measures,  Honesty statement in cursive  Demographic information,  Numbered scratch paper,  Clocks on computer.

Revised GRE: Analytical Writing “Present your Perspective on an Issue”  one essay topic.  30 minutes to write your essay. “Analyze an Argument”  30 minutes to critique a one-paragraph argument. Read and follow instructions! No spell or grammar check provided.

How the AWM is Scored  Each essay scored by 2 trained readers.  6-point holistic scale.  Scores from the two readings averaged.  Scores on the two essays averaged and rounded up to the nearest half-point.  A single score is reported for the section.  Scoring guides and topic pool at

Breaks  There will be a 10 minute break after section 3, and optional one minute breaks between other sections.

Standardized Sections: Verbal Reasoning Quantitative Reasoning

Revised Verbal Reasoning You will have 2 sections (adaptive at the section level) 30 minutes, 20 questions:  Sentence equivalence  Text completion  Reading comprehension (budget your time!)  All question types for all difficulty levels.

Revised VR: Sentence Equivalence

Revised VR: Text Completion

Revised VR: Reading Comprehension

Preparing for the Verbal Measure

Revised Quantitative Reasoning You will have 2 sections (adaptive at the section level) 35 minutes, 20 questions: More real-life scenarios and data interpretation Key knowledge areas:  arithmetic, algebra, geometry, probability and statistics

Revised QR: Quantitative Comparison

Revised QR: Problem Solving

Revised QR: Numeric Entry

Revised QR: Choose 1 or more

Preparing for the Quantitative Measure

Experimental Question Section  Additional section with questions in development  Experimental section may fall first, second or third  Treat all sections as if they count: you can’t tell which is which!

Keeping Your Scores  The test is geared toward your highest level of difficulty, so you can’t judge accurately how you did!  In general, if you finish the test, keep your scores.

GRE Prep Timeline  Take the practice test to identify your approximate beginning level,  Find target scores on PowerPrep,  Study areas that need improvement,  Practice to increase speed.

Grad School Application Timeline  Find application deadlines for your targeted programs,  Subtract one month to determine your “working” deadline,  Subtract two more months to request letters of recommendation,  Take GRE at least two – three months before published deadlines,  Mail in applications, and arrange for transcripts, to arrive by “working” deadline.

GRE Bottom Line: Preparation pays off!!